New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-06
A RAPIDLY VANISHING DEBT.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR NETWORK MAsONs

Lodge this ye r. Tnose dwelling in remote sections
OF the State start tor this city this morning Legisla-
ton OF general interest and importance to the craft Is
expected. The reunion and renewal OF friendshlps'
cemented by the mystic tie anticipated and the
sights OF the metropolis offer additional attiactons 10
visiting brethren. Among distinguished masons are
expected Past Grand Masters Joseph d. Evans,
John l. Lewis and Isaac Philips. who have not
missed a communication of tho Grand Lodge foi forty
years; Clinton F. Paige, OF Binghamton; Judge
James Gibsoi. Speaker James W. Hustled Clerk OF
the Senate John w. Vrooman, Edmund l.. Judson and
James Ten EycK, Of Albany; Jesse Anthony, OF
Troy; Benjamin Flasler, Of Suspension Bridge
llliam A. Brodie, of Geneseo Joseph j. Couch,
William Sherer, j. Edward Simmons and Charles
ROome.
For the last month unusual activity in the Grand
Secretaiy's Office has been noticed. Colonel Edward
NJ L. Ehlers has held this office since the death OF
James NJ. Austin, about five years ago. Colonel
Ehlerss zeal mas received general commentator, and
the systematic methods employed Dy hum VIII enable
the present Grand Lodge to begin its work promptly
alter assembling provided with tull STATISTICS anu
facts upon which it will be called to act Over 700
lodges already have made full return and by toght
Colonel Ehlers feels cor tdent all wilrbe received.
Since the session of the Grant Lodge there have
been nearly 400 additions to the various lodges.
The receipts iro,n dues and other regular sources OF
revenue the year will loot up nearly $9O0Oo
exclusive OF payments 10 Hqmdave the Hall Asylum
debt Ii has been OF congraulition that this
debt Is nearly extngushed. The subject has proved
the topic OF special interest throughout the State AT
the annual session of year ago the contributions
toward the cancellation o! the bonds issued on
account of the Hal aud Asylum fund aggregated only
$50 00O This. to many sagacious brethren, al peared
tar beyond their expectations, aud the efforts OF
the Grand Mister tins behalf were commended 20
generally chat his reelection WAS insisted upon. The
following amendments TO the constitution were then
proposed:
whenever the Indebtedness of the trustees of the
Masonic Hall and Asylum fund existing on the
first day of june lso6 snail be iuy PAD, inc annual
payment required by subdivision . OF TINS section
snail his WAS the tax or 90 cents per ca lla
yearly Any lodge which shall have PAD all sums que
from it TO the Grand Lodge may pay sum equal TO 20
for each OF its members, upon the number OF members
reported by December B. lSs5, ana upon so dong
shall the end o tie then current year be released
aud exempted from the SAID annual payment now re-
qured by said subdivision o.
All SUNS paid by any lodge by any of its members
and included within tie statements OF ne Grand slasis
all sums hereafter voluntarily PAID or contributed W
Indebtedness of the Masonic ia and Asylum fund. shall
be deemed payments account OF the Aforesaid per
capit sum OF XXX ana whee, er such contributions made
by any lodge ts members shall amount III the
aggregate Ia the aforesaid sum OF 20 Tor every
member OF said lodge upon the basis Of its membership
ON the 3lst day of December 1852 sucn lodge shall
end OF tie current year he entitled 10 te eA
No new charge shall hereafter he imposed upon the
lodges or their me nbers for benefit OF the Masonic
constuton which shall not be valid until 1t snail lave
been submitted to ana adopted by reeItourtns OF an
the lodges; and this subdivision shall IN nowise De
amended except by the vote OF the same number Oh
lodges.
1t will be seen by amendments that the temper OF
the last Grand Lodge to secure the payment OF Tue
present debt leave little latitude for the incur
ring Of any future nebe mess this character even To
build the asy um for the widows ana orphans oil Masohs
The constitution can he amended only by a tedious
process Besides its passage by Grand Lodge an amend
ment had to be ratified by of majority Of the
lodges in the entire To make these provisions still
more difficult of further amendment ratification by
three ourths OF lodges made instead of
by a majority. These amendments were promptly SUD
nit ed To tie various lodges ana a. promptly pasSeu
The work OF raising money Ia pay OIL the dent assumed
new aspect after the passage oi the ahehuheh.s He
lodges felt that burden sreNous 10 many was anout 70
be lifted from their shoulders. spirited ehort was
and the result exceeded the e1pecauohs even ol
the most sanguine projectors Oh the ~ "b;r
that the close Of each year raised money 10 pay dher
Grand Lodge dues with difficulty, msde special euorts
and achieved results thal tea,Y b ,hir Isnder re-
astonishing to those acquainted Win thclI 'ehueI re-
oUt.de assistance aud fair proposed But the pre-
vaiing sentiment while in hearty accord "lth air
asylum. The lodges yet delinquent fell that their last
chance Of outside aid was zone ana maj they mus ad n.y.
debt and the results have lett little doubt that the whole
| question will soon bc IA matter OF the past A., a..
AT the beginning OF te concerted movement ee aeo,
mortgage bonds bearing interest at per cent The pa
ance was represented 10y income bonds the interest on
which was per cent The 30 cent tax imposed TO clear
| of the dee; produced annual revenue or ABOUT
$50 600 and OF this sum II took some 100 70 pay
the interest on the bonds. The hope therefore OF wip
inc ont the Indebtedness the promise OF the almost
indefinite continuance of the tax The Grand Master
stated OF his letters upon Tue SUBJECT We nave
paid for interest our bonded debt since the Masonic
Hall was built sum greater than the "h9e ueD LOW
outstanding" l. e., on November o. ESQ nc Piesen5S
NET income from the rents ETC. OF the hau VIII exceed
$40 900 per annum. The debt being hqnlated, .ns not
ony will he available for the erection ana maintenance
of the projected yum. bur the reduction OF yearly uues
to the Grand Lodge will eonduce generally 10 'he pros
| perity of the fraternity in this state . -, ,o,-
The amount conributed"p to Tuesday May 81, ISL
was S2269sl 49, and the money still rapidly pouring III
This proof the temper OF the lodges looked upon as
annie justification OF speedy end OF the Oid deDt mere
i has been some difficulty in calling in the bonds Inc
holders naturally objected to giving up safe per cent
investment for money represent ony tht race Oh Tue
bond when they would ind II difficult to relnvest NJ
more than or ) per cent II was found, however tnat
the holders OF these bonds were largely members Oh ne
Masonic fraternity. The Grand Master Iearheu tu n
| these bondholders the majority OF them could he
persuaded resign the bonds To the trustees OF me
ialI and ASYLUM and dVantage was taken OF inc
opportunities buy them IN az rapidly az possible In
some the bonds held by lodges nave oeen gve up
Ia meet their pro rata at 80 head Inc last OF e i
come bonds been retired ana the hoang lhIeD.eu
re debt /, less than 30 900 instead of half
million as two years ago ms result orlhss . ,
nresrmt Grand Master and his Grand officers TO meet the
renrsentatyes OF the lodges throughout the STATE as
senbled In Grand Lodge tomorrow. III an exceeulhkv
happy contented AMI hopeful frame OF NINA. -,
one of tho curious incidents Of the last year mas peeh
the trouble between the Grand Lodge OF SoIhseIu anu
renored TO the Master by the secretary OF the
Grand Lodge of Connecticut ana ne VIII ssS tue NS
York Grand Lodge to take some action ~ the
story is that Hiram, not liking some measure vi Tue
Grand Lodge OF Connecticut, refused To OBEY. III cohse
onepce II Was disciplined and s warrant empowering 10
TO work was taken away Hiram as its nuipcr liu
cates ia the oldest lodge In that state III was charered
bv The Provincial Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and
Was said TO possess than USUAL seltestec!n IN lac
Il was said that OF the members rather thought th
Hiram ought to have little Grand Lodge Of s own
When this lodge entered into compact win he other
Masonic bodies to form the present Grand Loupe VI
connecticut 1t permitted TO keep its ola warrant
from the Provincial Grand Lodge of MASSACHUSETTS, as
relic II was locked up, and 10 II was accorded JUS
own narticular position of respect Distinguished Wis
itors were permitted to worship at the SHRINE. All Was
until the lodge began 10 overdo the matter
bv refusing TO adopt the standard work Then te ouDle
! began Hiram was expelled as lodge anu ,an edlee
81 non int rcourse MasODcaly Win ns WIS
promulgated Then the old warrant was TAKEN rom lts
| aanctent frame and resting place and duly declared
amhoritv for holding communications aud doing
! Masonio work The decision by the Aew,n ork GrihI
loge probably will have considerable wesht III scthS
H. matter Tor good The situation has many points OF
Masonic interest have not been raised before
relations between the Grand Lodge OF quebec ana tne
during the last year The edic Of nonntercourse sui Is
| In force.